I think that the Barrow
administration is focusing too much of its attention on bringing down the
legacy of Jammeh and his associates.
This energy could be better focused on trying to develop the economy and
repair other areas of governance. Such as the current administrative gap the
executive is to appoint a vice president. Up until today, we are still waiting
for transparency regarding the matter. The tendency of hiring based on compensation,
political agenda, is an insult to the Gambians both those home and abroad.
Democracy means a
government by the people and for the people. Governed by the parameters of the
constitution. The people of Gambia respect the rule of law and we are aware of
our constitutional rights. Mr. President, if you are found to have breached the
constitution, we as the people through the parliament and judiciary will take
the appropriate means to hold your administration accountable. We the Gambian people ask that you rearrange
and appoint a Vice President in a democratic and constitutional manner. It is
hearth wrenching, to see the petite bourgeois politicians busy enriching
themselves and enjoying luxury, while the peasants are getting poor and poorer.
Take the example of Thomas Sankara: As the
former President of Burkina Faso, he has lowered his salary to only $450 a
month and limited his possessions to a car, four bikes, three guitars, a fridge
and a broken freezer. A motorcyclist himself, he formed an all-women motorcycle
personal guard. He required public servants to wear a traditional tunic, woven
from Burkinabe cotton and sewn by Burkinabe craftsmen. He was known for jogging
unaccompanied through Ouagadougou in his track suit and posing in his tailored
military fatigues, with his mother-of-pearl pistol. When asked why he didn’t
want his portrait hung in public places, as was the norm for other African
leaders, Sankara replied “There are seven million Thomas Sankaras.”
Sankara rejected the
idea of foreign aid, stating that “he who feeds you, controls you.” Wheat
production rose in just three years from 1700 kg per hectare to 3800 kg per
hectare, making the country food self-sufficient. He spoke eloquently in forums
like the Organization of African Unity against continued neo-colonialist
penetration of Africa through Western trade and finance. He called for a united
front of African nations to repudiate their foreign debt. He argued that the
poor and exploited did not have an obligation to repay money to the rich and
exploiting.
In Ouagadougou, Sankara
converted the army’s provisioning store into a state-owned supermarket open to
everyone (the first supermarket in the country). He forced civil servants to
pay one month’s salary to public projects. He refused to use the air
conditioning in his office on the grounds that such luxury was not available to
anyone but a handful of Burkinabe’s.
He sold off the
government fleet of Mercedes cars and made the Renault 5 (the cheapest car sold
in Burkina Faso at that time) the official service car of the ministers. He
reduced the salaries of all public servants, including his own, and forbade the
use of government chauffeurs and 1st class airline tickets. He redistributed
land from the feudal landlords and gave it directly to the peasants. (Pan-African
Renaissance)
Why can’t Barrow follow
a similar example? I have posed the question; we will wait for a response.
I must admit that
Gambia at the moment isn't stable and the daily operations of government are
gravely abnormal. We the people, ask the
Barrow administration to effectively work on their investigations instead of
detaining suspects. For instance looking at the NIA9, it is imperative to note
that at the start of the case there was no substantial evidence. Therefore, the
government must take things gradually and cautiously before making any haste
decisions, such actions may lead to dichotomy & chaos in the Gambia. Only
when there is substantial evidence then one must act and hold those
accountable.
In examining the Kanilai
catastrophe, where there was an unusual bitter confrontation between the
peaceful protesters and Senegalese soldiers at the entrance of the village
leading to blood shell. Where residents of the rural settlement and the Foni
environs demanded the immediate evacuation of both the Gambian and Senegalese
soldiers in Kanilai. Where innocent protesters
were shot on their route to Kanfenda, namely Mr. Haruna Jatta, who was
critically injured and was left in fatal situation as a result of a gunshot
wound.
Unfortunately, Mr.
Jatta did not survive the attack and was later laid to rest on the 06th June,
2017 in his native village of Kanilai. Which begs the question, Mr President, why
has the commission of inquiry not been established on the Kanilai incident as promised?
Every life matters and Mr. Jattas’s death must not go in vain. The government
is always acting politically whenever their popularity is challenged.
I argue that, even
though there are several indictments against Jammeh and his crew. It is
important to act when there is evidence. However, not to the mercy of the
sinking economy, this needs to be addressed urgently.
In noting examples of
such around Africa, In Kenya, the regime of Daniel Arap Moi took over power
apparently to ensure the revenge of the Kalenjin ethnic group over the long
predominance or alleged predominance of the Kikuyu. Logically, therefore, the
security and safety of individuals in key positions of the regime rely on
staying in power.
Looking at Tanzania, In
1964, the alleged “Arab dominance” in Zanzibar was revenged by a revolutionary
seizure of Arab properties by the “Africans”. The rivalries between Igbo and
non-Igbo groups in Port Harcourt, between Yoruba and Hausa in Ibadan (Nigeria)
and other similar occurrences in the Congo Leopoldville, Rwanda, Burundi and
others signify not ethnic conflicts per se but just sheer power struggles for
the control of either major resources (wealth) or political power or both, by
certain groups playing the ethnic card. (See H. Wolpe, Urban Politics in
Nigeria).
In rebuilding a new
Gambia we want. Policies should be re-written and all criminals and offenders
despite of their political party, tribe, religion and position should be
treated equally in front of the laws of the land. As per our national anthem
“let justice guide our action towards the common goal”.
By: Saidina Alieu
Jarjou
Blogger/Activist
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